The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-08-10

csJ JHun Snc 1elt In any OF her aD1ectly
smitten adorers. He was impartially
friendly with the other ladies' but seemed
to prefer most the society of an old con-
tessa, an invalid who spent most of her
time half buried among the pillows of
her sofa. A year or two previous, at
Cannes, she had been thrown into a vio-
lent paroxysm of fright by her horses
running away, and her nerves had never
recovered from the shock. Mr. Wins
ton had come to the rescue very heroic
ally in this accident, people said, and the
two had become fast friends, as q matter
of course.
Valerie Tempest began to be seriously
unhappy over Mr.. Winston's marked
avoidance of her; sights of this kind
were novel and bitter experiences for
her, and the more this mans favor was
withheld, the more she longed for it.
He had bewitched her with his delicious
music, with the sonnd of his voice, with
himself. Under his eyes she began a
violent Irritation with Freddy Harbor-
ough, whom she detested. but it was all
OF no avail; not even through the
medium of jealousy was the mysterious
musician to be won over to worshipping
at Nalerie's shrine.
As the warm weather advanced the
poor old contessa grew weaker and
weaker, and one evening was found lying
dead on her sofa. She was buried at
San Miniato, on the hill, slab in com
memoration of her death being placed in
the floor of the church. One of the re-
ceivers of the contessa's bounty was
half idiotic vendor of straw brushes
among the funeral flowers was found a
neatly woven broom, which the poor
half-witted creature had brought as
testimony of gratitude and affection for
his benefactress.
A few days later Mrs. Marshall and
Valerie sat, over their coffee, in the
breakfast-room, flooded with sunshine
and invaded by flies, alone, except for
MIR. Winston, who sat opposite. lie was
if possible, more absent than ever, and
instead of looking at Valerie, he seemed
to gaze through her out toward the Fie-
sole hills. Perhaps this abstraction was
not surprising owing to the recent death
of his friend. While Mr.. Winston's eyes
were fixed in contemplation of the dis
tant hills, Mrs. Marshall noticed that Val
erie was staring at him with blank ex-
preston of amazement that was really
alarming.
Whatever is the matter, child2n she
whispered. Don't look like that-you
frighten me!n
Look !" the girl answered, in a low,
eager voice, in German. A fly has set
tied on his eye-ball, and he doesn't brush
it off. Do you see? The left eye-he
can have no feeling in it. Heavens! /
see it all now. He has glass eye! Come
out on the balcony, it is suffocating in
here"
On the balcony, Valerie continued:
''This man can be no other than Gertie's
fame. She did not mention his name,
but there cannot be two fiddling glass
eyed Englishmen in Florence He heard
all my idiotic discourse that day when |
read you Gertie's letter. Oh, what fool
/ have been! No wonder he avoids me-
l wish he would go away-and, vet, |
would like chance to tell him how re-
pent all those silly speeches.
Isn't it odd we never noticed that
Mr.. Winston had glass eye till Valerie
called our attention TO itl' said one of
the bevy of maidens which each evening
animated the salons of the Bella Vista.
1T is not so surprising when one re-
fleets that he never spoke to any of us for
more than five minutes at a time, and
then usually in the twilight in our en-.
chanting garden. All his attention
seemed given to the contessa and his
violin"
II wonder how he lost his eyer"
"When he seized and stopped the con-
tessa's horses that unlucky day at
Cannes, the carriage pole struck him in
the eye and nearly killed him. He is
evidently very plucky fellow; Mr..
Bertram told mamma the whole story"
Poor Valerie listened with ever-increas-
ing self-reproach.
That day she went for solitary walk,
and half mechanically wended her steps
towards San Miniato. There was chat
tering crowd of people dispersed about
the cemetery, and to avoid them she be-
thought herself of the quiet of the church.
The doors were locked, but as she stood
before them, hesitating, custodian APP
peared, and intimated to her by series
of winks and whispers that, though the
public was not admitted to-day, he would
let her in for a small consideration of
soldi. He would be obliged to lock the
door after her, but when she wished to
be let out she need only pound on the
door with her umbrella and he would
bring his key.
Valerie liked the sensation of finding
herself alone in the great, ornate. cool
quiet of the church, although it gave her
a little shiver of fright to hear the key
turn in the lock, and to know that she
was temporary prisoner. She stood for
some moments studying the inscription
on the floor in memory of the contessa.
and adding to the mass of wreaths and
bouquets already upon it fragrant tea
rose from the bosom of her dress.
Presently a sound like prolonged
sigh startled her violently. She was evi-
IDENTIFY not alone. The sigh changed to
liscordant laugh, and from the shadow
Of II pillar hobbled forth the half-mad /
bcoom' eller whom the contessa had be- /.
yricnded. He seemed to be wholly mad /.
now; his eyes glared and rolled in their /.
sockets horribly, and he began glib |
bering and gesticulating to Valerie |
with frenzied eagerness which /
made her turn pale with fright. !
She now beat a hasty retreat to the |
loor, followed by the idiot, and rained |
I shower of blows on the solid oak, to